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Super Bowl LX Preview: Five Potential Free Agents for Washington Fans to Watch
Jaylinn Hawkins, S (Patriots) Age: 28 | Ht/Wt: 6’1″, 208 lbs Projected Market Value (AAV): $2.2M
Jaylinn Hawkins may not be the most sought-after name on the market, but he offers high-IQ play as a rotational piece. In his second season in New England, the former Falcons fourth-round pick truly took the next step.
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He ended the 2025-2026 season as the fifth-highest rated safety according to PFF. His 87.1 run-defense grade was the second-highest in the league for the position. While this may typecast Hawkins as a box safety, he offers more versatility than that: he logged 524 snaps at free safety, 201 in the box, and 93 as a slot defender.
He has been a vital component of the Patriots’ eighth-ranked defense. Coming off a career-best four-interception season, Hawkins provides veteran stability to a unit that often looked confused or lost this year. Having thrived in New England’s disciplined environment, he could give Washington a hard-nosed depth piece to help solidify the back end of the defense.
Riggo’s Rag
Former Washington OT Cornelius Lucas faces an uncertain future just one year after Commanders exit
The upturn in consistency was notable, even if the Commanders managed just five wins. As for Lucas? He failed to hit the ground running in a different environment, leaving Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus to declare the Kansas State product as Cleveland’s worst signing of the 2025 offseason.
“The Browns’ offensive line tied for 30th in PFF pass-blocking grade, with players like [Cornelius] Lucas unable to help right the ship. The former Commander struggled when filling in for injured starters on both sides, posting a 42.7 overall PFF grade and surrendering 29 pressures on 193 pass-blocking snaps.”Bradley Locker
This lack of productivity is a far cry from how Lucas acquitted himself in Washington. Perhaps the proverbial performance cliff has arrived at 34 years old, but the Browns have a relatively easy out on his deal if they choose to end this experiment early.
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Much will depend on what new head coach Todd Monken thinks. Cleveland can save $1.83 million on its cap by releasing Lucas, who has one year remaining on his deal. Considering the Browns need every available cent, with quarterback Deshaun Watson’s cap number surging to $80.71 million, every little move matters in easing their financial burden.
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Blogging the Boys
Sources: Cowboys will place franchise tag on George Pickens; here’s what’s next
Considering the Cowboys spent a third-round pick to acquire him and the fact that he has been everything they could have hoped for, this one seems very likely to fall into the placeholder category. While the details of what happens next are still TBD, at the very least, fans can rest easy knowing that for the next year, the only time he’s catching passes in other cities is when the Cowboys are on the road.
“I’m talking to George all the time by virtue of my excitement for him,” Jones told the Cowboys website. “He’s better than, as far as what he contributed to our team, showing the potential that he could contribute. I’m looking forward to getting things worked out so George can be a Cowboy a long time.”
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Pickens is coming off a breakout season in which he caught 90 passes for 1,409 yards and nine touchdowns — all career bests.
The Cowboys are scheduled to have 15 unrestricted free agents this offseason, including Pickens, running back Javonte Williams and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.
Big Blue View
NY Giants 2026 NFL Draft scouting report: Sam Roush, TE, Stanford
Sam Roush projects as a classic “Y” tight end at the NFL level. Whether or not he has starting upside or is regarded as a very good blocking TE2 with pass catching upside will likely depend on the needs of the team evaluating him, as well as his athletic testing.
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Teams looking for a hybrid tight end will want to look elsewhere. Likewise, 11-personnel teams that want a big, athletic “matchup nightmare” might move down their boards as well. That said, Roush should become a good, reliable option, with the upside to start for whichever team selects him.
Final Word: A Day 2 value who could slip to Day 3
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ESPN
Sources: Falcons expected to cut Kirk Cousins before new league year
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is expected to be released before the start of the new league year in March, allowing him to choose where or if he wants to play in 2026, league sources told ESPN.
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The Falcons recently restructured Cousins’ contract with the idea that it would be easier for both sides if the four-time Pro Bowler was released sooner rather than later, giving Cousins the optionality that he wanted and adding financial flexibility for Atlanta.
Cousins and the Falcons modified the final two years in his contract, changing his 2026 base salary from $35 million to $2.1 million but adding the leftover $32.9 million to his 2027 base salary to now make it $67.9 million. That $67.9 million would become guaranteed if Cousins remains on the Falcons roster at the start of the league year in mid-March.
Few players have fared better in free agency than Cousins, who has landed deals from both the Falcons and Minnesota Vikings in recent years that are virtually fully guaranteed.
Cousins would like to play next season but also has dabbled in television, appearing on CBS’ pregame show during the postseason. TV is expected to be an option for Cousins, as is retirement. But he also will be fully open to finding the right opportunity with another NFL team in need of quarterback help.
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Releasing Cousins would further open up the quarterback position in 2026 for the Falcons, whose new regime has not yet committed to Michael Penix Jr. as the starter.
Penix is recovering from surgery to repair a torn left ACL, which he suffered in November, and is expected to be out nine to 12 months.
Pro Football Talk
The Falcons and Pace have parted ways, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Pace had spent the last four years with the Falcons, and his most recent title was vice president of football operations and player personnel. But in an offseason when Matt Ryan has taken over the front office and General Manager Terry Fontenot was fired, Pace no longer has a place in the front office.
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The 48-year-old Pace is best known for working as GM of the Bears from 2015 to 2021. Before that he spent 14 years with the Saints.
NFL.com
Bears promoting passing game coordinator Press Taylor to offensive coordinator
Chicago is promoting passing game coordinator Press Taylor to offensive coordinator, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo reported on Sunday morning.
Taylor, hired on by Ben Johnson when the coach was putting together his staff last year, will replace Declan Doyle, gone to serve as the Ravens OC.
Taylor will not be called upon to call plays in Chicago.
Still considered a bright, young NFL mind at 38, he’ll assist play-caller Ben Johnson install the game plan and keep an offense coming off its most points scored since 2013 rolling.
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